Our interest in hiking was born in the Blue Ridge mountains of Georgia. The inspiration to walk El Camino began one night, browsing through books at Books & Books in Coral Gables. Rolando came across a book titled Humbled by the Journey by Miguel “Mike” Benito Fernandez. It is a story of a Cuban businessman, and his journey on El Camino to Santiago de Compostela. It seemed like an interesting read, so we decided to buy it, hoping that it wouldn’t sit on our bedside table along with the other books we haven’t found the time to read. At the register, Rolando asked the cashier if he knew anything about this story. The gentleman at the cashier, a man in his late 60’s we thought, said that he did know something about the story because he had done the pilgrimage himself. This man 20+ years our senior, he is in his 70’s we learned, planted the seed that would soon become a dream.
That seed was firmly rooted the day we watched a movie directed and produced by Emilio Estevez and his father Martin Sheen, the leading actor in the film The Way. Movieholics that we are, it isn’t hard to believe that one movie would have such an impact on us. Great movie–a must see whether you’re interested in making this journey, or just want to experience an inspirational story.
Being in the beginning stages of our quest, our research consists of lots of reading. Today we started the day reading two chapters of To The Field of Stars, by Kevin A. Codd.
There is a story about the meaning of Compostela, which if you understand Latin, (and who understands Latin??) translates to Field of Stars. Hence, the title of Father Codd’s book, an American priest on his own journey towards enlightenment. We are only two chapters into the book and already we don’t want to put it down.
Next on our reading list will be that first book that inspired us, and still sits on our bedside table.
Our journey awaits.
Buen camino. . .
Road Drifters 